Updated: 5:05 PM EST Feb 4, 2021
Jake Cookson
Digital Media Manager
A state consultant has been fired after using racial slurs during a virtual meeting with the Vermont Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday. Steven Gayle, the consultant and a director with Resource Systems Group, said a slur twice during a 10-minute intermission in the meeting, apparently unaware that his microphone was on. The slurs were not initially noted by anyone in the committee, all of whom were absent from the screen as Gayle appeared alone along with an intermission notice. A spokesperson with the Agency of Transportation confirmed with NBC5 News that Gayle was fired early Thursday morning. “The Agency of Transportation and the State of Vermont will not tolerate racist conduct by consultants engaged by the State," a release from the group read. "The Secretary of Transportation contacted the CEO of the company this morning, upon learning of this incident. The CEO has informed the Secretary that the company terminated Steven Gayle at 9:35 this morning.”The slurs were used just over an hour into a meeting hosted by the Senate committee, which was also streamed live online. Gayle's use of slurs were removed from the video Thursday. In the video Gayle can be heard saying "...don't believe this s—" into his microphone. More than a minute later, following some brief comments that were mostly unintelligible, he can be heard saying “you know we arrested every N—," using the complete racial slur. NBC5 News submitted a request for comment to Gayle on Thursday morning. At the time of this report, no response has been received. The video's circulation has sparked a widespread condemnation of the comments from elected officials. Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint called the language "abhorrent" in a statement sent Thursday morning, adding that abusive language will not be tolerated. "My understanding is that all committee members and staff were away from their computers at the time and that no one became aware of the issue until much later," Balint said. "The legislature must be a venue that welcomes and supports the participation of all, and language that traumatizes people of color cannot stand."Lt. Gov. Molly Gray released a statement early Thursday afternoon expressing her support for RSG to terminate Gayle. "This behavior has no place in Vermont, and I stand with state leadership in condemning this incident and calling for accountability," Gray said.